In Pursuit of Excellence

In addition to sponsoring important educational projects, Ede & Ravenscroft proudly supports and sponsors many prestigious awards and prizes. These include awards for outstanding academic achievement, legal study and musical distinction. Additionally we are a keen supporter of the arts including patron to some of the world’s most delicate and charming miniature furniture collections.

The Academic Prize

Humphrey and Francis Ravenscroft’s ethics and foresight still serve to motivate many people. They believed that education should be available to all. Among their many achievements, Humphrey established a ladies college in Camberwell and Francis personally guaranteed the cost of developing new premises for Birkbeck College where he was Governor for half a century.

Drawing on their leadership and to mark Ede & Ravenscroft's 300 year anniversary, in 1989, The Ede & Ravenscroft Academic Prize for Excellence was established. It offers assistance to a second year student to help them excel in their field.

The Mariinsky Academy

Ever since 1844 when Humphrey Ravenscroft founded an academy for young ladies in London, Ede & Ravenscroft has supported the arts and the pursuit of excellence.

We provide scholarships to the Young Singers Academy of the Russian based Mariinsky Theatre – home of the famous Kirov Opera, Orchestra and Ballet - as well as awarding a scholarship to the leading male and female singer each year.

The Academy encourages live concerts and Ede and Ravenscroft often invites students to perform to private audiences in the UK.

Patronage of the Arts & Crafts: Miniature Furniture Collection

Ede & Ravenscroft’s passion for arts and the finer crafts has resulted in one of the world’s finest collections of miniature furniture.

It has a long and proud relationship with Denis E Hillman who in the 1970s, crafted an exceptional collection of Louis XV miniature furniture. The pieces became internationally celebrated as some of the finest examples of miniature craftsmanship ever made.

A Fellow of the International Guild of Miniature Artisans, Denis Hillman lovingly recreated perfect miniatures of some of France’s most exquisite furniture pieces.

To complement his work, Ede & Ravenscroft commissioned the gifted English miniaturists Kevin Mulvany and Susan Rogers to create three miniature rooms: Louis XV’s private office, his Fontainebleau salon as well as Louis XVI’s Versailles library. Such is its importance that the collection is currently exhibited at The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, Missouri.